Soldering iron holder



Jan. 20, 1931. R. E. PowELL 1,789,475

soLDEnING IRON HOLDER Filed oct. 29, 1925 Patented Jan. 20, 1931 SOLDERIN G IRON HOLDER Application lecl October 29, 1925. Serial No. 65,547.

This invention relates to soldering iron holders, and has for its main object the provision of a holder for soldering irons which will support the iron when not in` use and conduct awa suiiicient heat to prevent 1njury to an electric heating element thereof through over-heatin In accordance wit an embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision of a soldering iron holder comprising a segmental jacket'having radiating fins formed thereon, the jacket being designed to permit msertion of a soldering iron and responsive to the weight of the iron, when inserted, to grip a portion of the iron.

The invention will be more readily understood from a consideration of the following ldescription taken lwith the accompanying rawings, in which Fig. 1 is a View, in perspective, of a holder embodying the features of the present invention showing an electrically heated soldering iron about to be inserted therein;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the holder with the iron inserted therein, and i Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the holder showing a soldering iron inserted therein.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, a holderrembodying the main features of the invention ma i comprisean upper and lower holding mem er designated by the numerals and 11, respectively, and having heat radiating fins 12-12 formed integrally therewith.` The members 10 and. 11y are pivotally secured to the upright portions of a bifurcated mountin member 15 which is suitably secured to a ase 16. kThe pivots for the members 10 and 11 are trunnion-like, being two in number, for each member andare designated by the numerals -20 and 21-21, respectively. The ivots 20 and 21 are diagonal to the front ace of lthe holder and are located forward of the center of gravity. oftheir respective members. This construction results in the two members assuming a tilted .position when not holding an. object and also being farther separated from each other whentilted than when they are in a horizontal position.

yso that when the members 10 As shown more clearly iny Figs. 1 and 2 the pivots 20V and 21 are positioned-to the rightl of the vertical center line of the members ,10 and 11 as viewed in these figures, and consequently the left-hand portion thereof is of a greater weight than the right-hand portion-so that when the soldering iron 36 is removed the natural tendency of the members 10 and 11 is to assume a tilted position. Also, the pivots 2O and 21 are arranged on a diagonal and 11 are in a tilted osition the spacing therebetween Will-be o a greater distance than when they `are intheir horizontal position. In this connection it is noted that when the: members 10 and 11 are in a horizontal position, as Viewed in Fig. 2, Lthe spacing between them is a predetermined amount, but by having the pivots'20 and 2l arranged on a diagonal the will move through greater separation of the members when they are inthe tilted position as viewed in Fig. 1.

The holding members 10and 11 are providedwith extensions designated by the numerals 23 and 22, respectively, andlugs 25 and 26 in which are inserted stop pins 27and 28, respectively. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the extension (22 or 23) on vone holding member is positioned between the stop pin (27 or 28) and a shoulder integral with thelug or 26). lon the other holding membei'. The bearing of the extension Von the shoulder prevents theholding members from coming so close to ether at the rear end thereof as to make t e insertion of a soldering iron diilicult; and the stop pins engage the extensions when the iron is inserted to prevent too great a vportions of the holding members, which separation might permit the end ofthe iron to extend too far therethrough. The` tilting of the members whenan object is not being held separation of the rear thereby is limited by one of the lugs` (25 or 26) en aging the end portion of the oppositely isposed holding member. v v

In the drawings the holder is ,shown mounted in an upright osition but it is` obvious that it might be esirable 4to mount it in an inverted position, as for instance, un-

cn l ffl der a work bench. To accomplish this a second set of pivot holes ?)0 is provided in the mounting member 15 and corresponding holes formed in each side of the members l() and 11. Suitable pivots such as pins or screws can then be secured in the holes, and the screws inthe pivots 20 andQlre-moved. The members l() and il will then be opened when tilted in the opposite direction than when mounted yas .shownin itliev drawings, andk 'are hen daptedtobe IIlQlll-ted inaninverjted-position.

The holder is designed for useffwith any usual type of electrically heated soldering iron such as shown in lthe accompanying drawings in which` a tip is heated by a heating element (not shown)v contained within atubular `portion 36, current being supplied 'from a suitable source (notshown) throughy a cord 37 which is led through the customary l...wooden.handle 38. The greater -portionof Athe heat ini the iron is confined to the tipveandthe portion 36 containing the heatingelement,v and as shown in FigfQthe weight of .the iron. moves the members l() and l1 from atilted to a substantially horizontal position whereby the portion 36 is securely gripped' by these members. The-'holder may be designedto grip the tip 35 .alsm'but the f heat conductedltherefrom `is small'in comparisontothat from the portion 36, and inasmuchas many different-shapes and sizes of tips are employed,rand each one would requirea different lholder it is preferable lto design the holder to engage only the portioncontaining the heating elements. With this design the holderlmay be vemployed with soldering irons having -any styleof tip.

The memberslOand 11 may be'constructed of any material which is `heat conducting, but y preferably a material which will conduct the heat away from thesoldering iron more rapidly `than ordinary iron or iron alloys'.

A very good metal for this use is aluminum as a it is such a goodconductor of heat that the radiatingsurface supplied by theiins r12 need not beexcessively large. The interior portionof.theholdermaybe provided with'longitudinal corrugations 40 which limit the amount of surface 'in contact with the iron. This limitsthe conduction of heat and prevents too rapid cooling of the ironl when4 first placed in -thelholden A holder embodying the'features of the present invention is offparticular utility when used with so-calledheavy duty soldering irons for soldering operations, whichnecle's- 'sarily require a great amount of heat, and which when not -in use have av tendency to become schot as to destroytheheating element andotherwise damage theironif allowed `to remain unused may naar `Q f an@ wah- Oiit dSCOLHeftns ,it treinta@ Saure ,oi .Qur fleet "A" 'llssebodyns :the interessi binvatahreessfs unnecessary La@ nire v ing ofi' or limiting the current to the iron by external resistors or other devices to avoid overheating thereof when not in use. Thus vthe iron is always ready for immediate use since it is not necessary to await the appreciable amount ofwtirne requiredaf terfthe4 applif cation :of ielectriccurrent to the-heating element for the transformation of that current i What is claimed is:y

rin pt-soldering iron holder having heat radiating elements formed thereon and de- ..signed.toq-iieceive-heat from said iron at a rate having a predetermined ratio to the rate at which heat is ,generatel in said iron so as Vto,approzi'imate actual working conditions rto respond to the weight oftheiron when `inserted therein to grip a `portion ofthe iron.

2.V A soldering iron holder comprising a plurality of heat radiating members cooperating to form a jacket encircling the iron,

designed toreceive heat from said iron vat a` rate having a predetermined ratio tothe rate at whichiheatis generated in said iron so as to approximate actual working conditionsto be partially dissociated vfrom each other to permit insertion of the iron, and responding tothe-weight of the iron when inserted therebetween kto be brought closertogether togrip a portion ofthe iron.

3. A soldering iron holder comprising la pair of finned members cooperating to 'form a jacket for the heated portion of'the iron, and pivots'for the finned members positioned diagonally with respect to the Vfront faces of the members and 4'forward ofthe center of gravity ofthe members.

4. A soldering iron holder comprising a pair` of finned members cooperating/itc form a jacket forthe heated portion ofthe iron, pivots 'for the finned members positioned diagonallywith respect tothe front facesof theniembers andyforward of .the center of gravity of the members to causethe front end of the members to normallytilt upwardly but designed so that the weight ofthe iron causes the members to assume ay substantially horizontal position and grip avportion of the iron, andn'ieans for limiting the tilting of the finned members.

(5.' A. solderingiron holder comprising'a thefmembers andL 'forward of the center of gravity of the members to cause the Vfront Aend o f the members to normallyv tilt'rupwardly but fClsSgIlSid YS0 .that .theV Weight ofthe iron causes 'the member-s to V`rassume a l substantially horizontal nostonand .grpa portonof the iron, andmeans rior spacing Ythe end ,portion of the two finned b @S Whe/I1 tilted.

c iso 6. A holder for a soldering iron comprising a plurality of relatively movable heat radiating members, and means effective only when the iron is inserted for causing said members to engage the soldering iron when inserted in the holder.

7. A holder for a soldering iron comprising means for holding a soldering iron, and means contacting with the iron at a plurality of spaced points around its periphery for preventing the soldering iron from overheating While in the holder.

8. In a holder for soldering irons, an enclosing element, and longitudinally extending members arranged on the interior surface of the enclosing element firmly gripping a portion of the iron.

9. In a holder for soldering irons, an enclosing element designed to receive the iron provided with interior and exterior corrugations to prevent the soldering iron from overheating while in the holder.

10. In a holder for soldering irons, a cylindrical enclosing element'designed to receive the iron provided with circularly arranged corrugations on the exterior surface, and longitudinally extending, interior corrugations to prevent the soldering iron from overheating While in the holder.

11. `A holder for a soldering iron comprising a plurality of heat radiating members having a normal predetermined separation, and means for causing said members to separate further when in a tilted position to receive a soldering iron.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this thirteenth day of October, A. D. 1925.

RAYMOND EUGENE POWELL. 

